Portable carriage-table set

ABSTRACT

A portable carriage-table set having a table including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a perimetric edge is provided. The lower surface of the table includes a stop and at least one hinge. The assembly can adopt a folded, transport carriage, transport carriage support, or table configuration. The portable carriage-table set further includes a first pair of bars which are, at one of their ends, respectively and pivotally coupled to the at least one hinge, and at the other end thereof they are joined together by means of an axis on which two wheels are respectively mounted in a rotary manner. A second pair of bars is housed within the space delimited by the first pair of bars, and a third pair of bars is positioned above the first pair of bars. A fourth pair of bars is positioned under the second pair of bars.

The present invention refers to a portable carriage-table set. More specifically, it refers to a foldable device able to be transformed both in a transport carriage and in a table, particularly in a beach table.

AR 36200 A1 discloses a beach carriage-table provided with two wheels, able to adopt three positions by means of a dented hinges system which allows movement of two pairs of parallel supporting arms. When folded, said beach carriage-table size is reduced so it can be stored.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,462 discloses a convertible hand-held carriage for equipment transport purposes. This carriage comprises three independent pivoting articulated elements. These articulated elements allow such carriage to adopt five different configurations: a folded configuration, a loading configuration, a hand-held configuration, a sloped table configuration and a standing-table one.

The inventive portable carriage-table set substantially reduces joints exhibited by the previous art, the present carriage-table being more simple when adopting the folded, transport carriage or support for transport carriage, or table configuration, there existing less risks of joints breakage and/or jamming, and further, its cost is lower as it has less pieces. Also, and due to the novel combination of used elements, it may transport and hold large volume objects.

It is then an object of the present invention a portable carriage-table set comprising:

-   -   a table comprising an upper surface, a lower surface and a         perimetric edge, the lower surface of said table comprising in         turn a stop and at least one hinge, said assembly being able to         adopt a folded configuration, a transport carriage         configuration, a transport carriage support configuration or a         table configuration;     -   a first pair of bars which are, at one of their ends,         respectively and pivotally coupled to said at least one hinge,         and at the other end thereof they are joined together by means         of an axis on which two wheels are respectively mounted in a         rotary manner;     -   a second pair of bars housed within the space delimited by said         first pair of bars, pivotally articulated on the vicinity of the         middle point of said first pair of bars, which are, at one of         their ends, mutually joined by means of a first cross-piece         which adapts telescopically thereto, and at the other of the         ends they are mutually joined by means of a first transverse         bar;     -   a third pair of bars positioned above said first pair of bars         and pivotally coupled thereto by one of the ends thereof in a         point between said middle point and said axis by means of a         first coupling element, the other ends being mutually joined by         means of a second transverse bar; and     -   a fourth pair of bars positioned under said second pair of bars         in the vicinity of said middle point and pivotally coupled         thereto by means of a second coupling element, the other ends         being mutually joined by means of a third transverse bar.

The invention shall be more clearly understood when reference is made to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable carriage-table set of the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts the portable carriage-table set of the invention in folded configuration.

FIG. 3 depicts the portable carriage-table set of the invention in transport carriage or transport carriage support configuration.

FIG. 4 depicts the portable carriage-table set of the invention in table configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable carriage-table set 1 comprising a table 2 which has an upper surface, a lower surface and a perimetric edge thereinbetween, a front portion and a rear portion, a stop 3 attached to said lower surface in the vicinity of the front portion of said table, and at least one hinge 4 attached to said lower surface in the vicinity of the rear portion of said table 2, said set 1 being able to adopt a folded configuration, a transport carriage configuration or a transport carriage support configuration, and a table configuration, all of which will be detailed below.

Said table 2 is associated to a first pair of bars 5 which are, at one of the ends thereof, respectively and pivotally connected to said at least one hinge 4 and wherein the other ends are mutually joined by means of an axis 6 over which a pair of wheels 7 are respectively mounted in rotary fashion.

Said first pair of bars 5 is associated to a second pair of bars 8, positioned within the space delimited by said first pair of bars 5, which are pivotally articulated at the vicinity of middle point 9 of said first pair of bars 5, which are, at one of the ends thereof, mutually joined by means of a first cross-piece 10 which is telescopically connected thereto and which is provided with first locking means 19 for its height adjustment, and wherein the other of its ends are mutually connected by means of a first transverse bar 11.

A third pair of bars 12 are pivotally connected above said first pair of bars 5 and via one of the ends thereof in a point between said middle point 9 and said axis 6 by means of a first coupling element 13, said third pair of bars 12 being able to pivot towards the front portion of said table 2. At the other of the ends thereof they are mutually joined by means of a second transverse bar 14. Said second transverse bar may be attached to said other of its ends or it may function as a second cross-piece telescopically coupled to said third pair of bars 12, said second cross-piece being provided with locking means 20 for the adjustment of the height thereof.

Lastly, a fourth pair of bars 15 are pivotally coupled under said second pair of bars 8 and by one of the ends by means of a second coupling element 16 which is located in the vicinity of the middle point of said first pair of bars 5, said fourth pair of bars 15 being able to pivot towards the rear portion of said table 2. The other of the ends thereof are mutually joined by means of a third transverse bar 17. Said third transverse bar 17 may be attached to said other of the ends thereof or it may function as a third cross-piece telescopically coupled to said fourth pair of bars 15, said third cross-piece being provided with third locking means 20′ for the adjustment of the height thereof.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show that said first pair of bars 5 is parallel to said table 2 when said set 1 adopts the folded configuration, the transport carriage configuration or the transport carriage support configuration. On the other hand, and as shown by FIG. 4, said first pair of bars 5 forms a substantially acute angle a with said table 2 when said set 1 adopts the table configuration.

As also shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, said second pair of bars 8 is parallel to said table 2 when said set 1 adopts the folded configuration, the transport carriage configuration or the transport carriage support one, or it forms a substantially acute angle a with said table 2 when said set adopts the table configuration.

FIG. 3 shows how cross-piece 10 telescopically displaces outwards from said one of the ends of said second pair of bars 8, when said set 1 adopts the transport carriage or the transport carrier support configuration, so that the user may hold it. Also, said first transverse bar 11 is positioned above said axis 6 when said set 1 adopts the folded configuration, the transport carriage configuration, or that of transport carriage support, as illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, or rests over said stop 3 of said table 2 when said set 1 adopts the table configuration, as shown by FIG. 4.

Said third pair of bars 12 is parallel to said first pair of bars 5 when said set 1 adopts the folded or table configuration (see FIGS. 2 and 4), or forms an angle b with respect to said first pair of bars 5 when said set 1 adopts the transport carriage configuration, or that of transport carriage support, as illustrated by FIG. 3.

Said fourth pair of bars 18 is parallel to said second pair of bars 8 when said set 1 adopts the folded configuration, as shown by FIG. 2, or forms an angle g with respect to said second pair of bars 8 when said set 1 adopts the transport carriage support configuration (see FIG. 3) or the table configuration (see FIG. 4). More specifically, said third transverse bar 17 is positioned under said axis 6 when said set 1 adopts the folded or table configuration, or rests on the floor when said set 1 adopts the configuration of transport carriage support.

Angles b and g formed by said third and fourth pairs of bars 12, 15 with said first and second pairs of bars 5, 8 respectively, measure substantially 90°.

Also, bars of said first, second, third and fourth pairs of bars 5, 8, 12, 15 are substantially parallel among them.

Lastly, it is to be remarked that said table 2 may have an opening 18 en its centre (see FIG. 4) for the insertion of a sun protecting element, such as for example a sunshade (not shown).

All of the elements which conform set 1, which is the object of the invention, should be highly resistant, specially against corrosion, and durable. 

1. A portable carriage-table set, comprising: a table comprising an upper surface, a lower surface and a perimetric edge, the lower surface of said table comprising in turn a stop and at least one hinge, said assembly being able to adopt a folded configuration, a transport carriage configuration, a transport carriage support configuration or a table configuration; a first pair of bars which are, at one of their ends, respectively and pivotally coupled to said at least one hinge, and at the other end thereof they are joined together by means of an axis on which two wheels are respectively mounted in a rotary manner; a second pair of bars housed within the space delimited by said first pair of bars, pivotally articulated on the vicinity of the middle point of said first pair of bars, which are, at one of their ends, mutually joined by means of a first cross-piece which telescopically couples thereto, and at the other of the ends they are mutually joined by means of a first transverse bar; a third pair of bars positioned above said first pair of bars and pivotally coupled thereto by one of the ends thereof in a point between said middle point and said axis by means of a first coupling element, the other ends being mutually joined by means of a second transverse bar; and a fourth pair of bars positioned under said second pair of bars in the vicinity of said middle point and is further pivotally coupled thereto by means of a second coupling element, the other ends being mutually joined by means of a third transverse bar.
 2. The set according to claim 1, wherein said first pair of bars is parallel to said table when said set adopts the folded configuration, the transport carriage configuration o the transport carriage support one, or forms an angle a with respect to said table when said set adopts the table configuration.
 3. The set according to claim 1, wherein said second pair of bars is parallel to said table when said set adopts the folded configuration, the transport carriage configuration o the transport carriage support one, or forms an angle a with respect to said table when said set adopts the table configuration.
 4. The set according to claim 3, wherein said angle a is substantially acute.
 5. The set according to claim 1, wherein said cross-piece is telescopically displaced outwards from said one of the ends of said second pair of bars when said set adopts the transport carriage configuration or the transport carriage support configuration, said first cross-piece being provided with first locking means for height adjustment thereof.
 6. The set according to claim 1, wherein said first transverse bar is positioned above said axis when said set adopts the folded configuration, the transport carriage configuration, or the transport carriage support one; or rests on said stop of said table when said set adopts the table configuration.
 7. The set according to claim 1, wherein said third pair of bars is parallel to said first pair of bars when said set adopts the folded or table configuration or forms an angle b with respect to said first pair of bars when said set adopts the transport carriage configuration, or that of transport carriage support.
 8. The set according to claim 1, wherein said fourth pair of bars is parallel to said second pair of bars when said set adopts the folded configuration, or forms an angle g with respect to said second pair of bars when said set adopts the transport carriage configuration, the transport carriage support configuration or the table configuration.
 9. The set according to claim 7, wherein angles b and g formed by said third and fourth pair of bars with said first and second pair of bars respectively, measure substantially 90°.
 10. The set according to claim 1, wherein said third transverse bar is positioned under said axis when said set adopts the folded, table or transport carriage configuration, or rests on the floor when said set adopts the transport carriage support configuration.
 11. The set according to claim 1, wherein bars of said first, second, third and fourth pairs of bars are substantially parallel among them.
 12. The set according to claim 1, wherein said second transverse bar is attached to said other of the ends thereof.
 13. The set according to claim 1, wherein said second transverse bar adopts the form of a second cross-piece telescopically coupled to said third pair of bars, said second cross-piece being provided with second locking means for the adjustment of the height thereof.
 14. The set according to claim 1, wherein said third transverse bar is attached to said other of the ends thereof.
 15. The set according to claim 1, wherein said third transverse bar adopts the form of a third cross-piece telescopically coupled to said fourth pair of bars, said third cross-piece being provided with third locking means for the adjustment of the height thereof.
 16. The set according to claim 1, wherein said table has a central opening for the insertion of a solar protection member, for example a sunshade.
 17. The set according to claim 1, wherein said set is manufactured from highly resistant, specially anticorrosion, and durable elements.
 18. The set according to claim 8, wherein angles b and g formed by said third and fourth pair of bars with said first and second pair of bars respectively, measure substantially 90°. 